Fabio Quartararo has been crowned the 2021 MotoGP World Champion after closest rival Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of the Misano lead with just four laps to go.
Tears of joy for @FabioQ20! ?#MotoGP has a new king!!! ?#ELD1ABLO ? | #EmiliaRomagnaGP ? pic.twitter.com/KEz376zvSl
— MotoGP™? (@MotoGP) October 24, 2021
Bagnaia needed to outscore Monster Energy Yamaha rider by three points to keep the championship title fight alive and was set on course to do it as he led from pole for the first 22 laps.
However, a mistake at Turn 15 ended all of the Italian hopes as he crashed, which also paved the way for 6-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to win the Misano round.
GAME OVER!!! ❌@PeccoBagnaia CRASHES OUT OF THE LEAD! ?#MatchPoint | #EmiliaRomagnaGP ? pic.twitter.com/cJn2vVwkec
— MotoGP™? (@MotoGP) October 24, 2021
Quartararo managed to make his way up to 3rd place before losing his spot to the emerging Enea Bastianini, who took the last spot on the podium behind Pol Espargaro.
Meanwhile, Quartararo delivered Yamaha’s first MotoGP world title since Jorge Lorenzo’s 2015 championship win.
The emotion pours out of @FabioQ20! ?
Classy touch from @ducaticorse who offer their congratulations after a titanic season-long battle! ?#ELD1ABLO ? | #EmiliaRomagnaGP ? pic.twitter.com/VY3ywnpIH1
— MotoGP™? (@MotoGP) October 24, 2021
At the end of the race, the former Petronas Sepang Racing Team (SRT) rider was also congratulated by Malaysian team principal Datuk Razlan Razali and team manager Johan Stigefelt.
Quartararo spent two seasons with SRT’s before moving to the factory seat this season.
